If you’ve fitted a Solar Panel (to be correct PV panels – photovoltaic panels generate solar electricity) or small wind turbine to your house and you are using your own generated energy and feeding power back into the grid you are now being told how much money you’ll be paid.

The government’s Energy and climate change department has released some figures for what they call the feed in tarrif which will come into effect in April.

Will PV Panels in Devon earn money from the new feed-in-tariff scheme?

Above is a simple PV Panel fitted to house roof – pv panels fitted in Devon will soon earn you money for the electricity you generate and use.

Being blessed with a temporate climate in Devon there has been much discussion about the potential to earn money from the feed-in-tariff  Devon.

On first hearing the idea that by installing solar pv panels in Devon you would be paid for what you generated AND used sounded too good to be true – like filling up with petrol and the cashier running out to give you fifty quid for doing so

Leoni Green from the renewable energy association intervied on BBC  Radio 4 You and Yours explains:

Renewable Energy from PV Panels Explained

Lets establish what we’re talking about here this is power above and beyond what we use in our homes if we ge it from a renewable source?

Yes that’s right – if you are going to invest in renewable energy in your home or in your community under this scheme what will happen is you will be paid a fixed premium payment for up to 25 years depending on the technology for every unit of renewable energy that you generate.

Just to be clear its for every unit of power that you generate not just what you export back into the gri so whether you consume it on site or export it you will be paid back a clear fixed premium price

And do we have a figure on that now?

We do yes – we’re analyising the figures that have come out today for example looking at pv photovoltaic photovoltaic (solar electric) looking at 41.3p/kWh for generation kilowat hour so a typical 2KW peak system that might cost around £9000 to install but you’ll be looking at receiving £900 every year from the frip ?? payments so the payback is looking pretty good.

The onus is going to be on the home owner to make a claim?

Yes you will have to register online.  All the technologies that qualify are approved technologies – so you can be confident in their operation and it will be the Energy Saving Trust that will be running this scheme for domestic householders for businesses they will want to contact the Carbon Trust

If we have a PV solar panel – photovoltaic panel or small wind turbine in our house already doing what it is supposed to be doing is there  a way that us the householder can find out whether it’s feeding power back in or not?

Well it will be feeding power

Sure but beyond what were using?

Yes when your out of the house – the sun shining at the midle of the day under this scheme is and export bonus so n

ot only do you get paid for what you generate and use there will be an export bonuse for every kwH that goes into the grid.

The thinking behind this is that you can be more energy efficient so the less power you consume in the home the more you can return to the grid and the more money you can make withh the feed-in-tariff.

Wider thoughts about the overall costs solar PV panels are clearly expensive we are told somewhere between eight and fourteen thousand pounds depending on the size of the panel – you do get a grant that will take a small portion of that off but it’s only a relatively small portion – now we’ve heard the figures today – when you put it all together does it make this look more worthwhile finacially?

Yes this is a proven scheme internationally and incrediablly successful – you’re talking about millions of homes now across

Europe investing in this scheme.  This replaces grant schemes and I have to say for investors and the industry thats very good news because what we had in the past was stop start grant schemes – often very over subscribed.  What we are seeing with this scheme is long term commitment over 20 or 25 years.  What should happen is that the banks should come forward with all kiinds of products so you should be able to get a very good upfornt loan to pay for the capital costs and you should be able to recoup those costs – looking at around ten years – we think it’s going to be less given that fossil fuel price is going to rise far more than the govenment assumed under their calcluations

Could they have pushed this further? I’m reading what the “We support coalition” said – they would have like the per unit to be 10 pence more and there are concerns that this is not as good for businesses as it is for householders.

That’s fair yes – I think we would have liked to seen a more ambitious scheme  – its going to work very nicely for homeowners – when you look at the interest rates paid in the bank you are looking at returns on this of 5 – 8% clearly a better return.

Where we are concerned is the business and commercial sectors because these are typically looking for a higher return on investment so looking at that closely.  Another thing to stress is that this is just a start so if you like this is wave one PV panels and domestic wind turbines, next year we get wave 2 where you will also ge trenewable heat technologies added so in addition to pv panels and hydro and wind people will be able to invest in wood burning boilers and heat pumps and geo-thermal so there is really going to be a really wide choice and I think this has to be a very good step forward for the industry and consumers.

Clarify – the feed in tariffs we’ve been talking about is coming into effect from the begining of April this year.

This post is best read whilst listening to Rofl ‘Arris’ Tie Me Kangaroo Down

Australia Day is the perect opportunity for our friends down under to blow huge raspberries to us miserable pommes and gloat about the quality of life they enjoy.

Celebrated annually on 26 January, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788, the hoisting of the British flag there, and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia.

The Australia Day celebrations in Sydney are befitting of Australia’s oldest and biggest city with events and activities spread far and wide.

Taunting the British with remarks about the high price of flights to Australia our Antipodean cobbers certainly have the upper hand in online arguments which are often started with simple jibes – what are the aussies celebrating? they lost the ashes again – which quickly escalates into our country is better than yours and chanting

What are the Australians Celebrating

This question was posed by a reader on an article about the claim that Sydney had let off the New Year fireworks early merely top pip the Kiwis to be first to get the 2010 celebrations off.  The visitor had been searching for flights to Sydney and came across the scandal that never was – Sydney it was clarified hold two displays on 31st December – an earlier one for families with children and those who like to get their head down before midnight.

Look at the pictures mate and eat your heart out. I was at the bridge and it was a stonking show.  Maybe we were celebrating the fact that 1.5million people were there in shorts and tshirts, picnics on the parks in the lovely warm weather,on one of the most picturesque and recognisable pieces of real estate in the world, looking forward to a year of endless sun and beaches, beaut women, rapid economic growth and a likestyle envied by many who are unfortunate enough not to live in God’s Own Country.

I could carry on, but you know the rest. Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oi!

Aussies seem hopelessly unaware of the fact that their epithet  ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’ which they tend to cry out at any given moment (just in case you don’t know which country they’re from) was coined by Max Boyce with his ‘Oggie, Oggie, Oggie’ call. I could go on and on… but I’ll leave that tendency to the Australians.

And Aussies bowl underarm too

Ostentatious Dubai is like no other city on earth. Emerging from the desert, it seems to boast the tallest, biggest, fastest and largest of just about everything, from opulent buildings to vast shopping malls. In a city where extravagance is the norm here’s some wild ways to spend your time there.

Choose your times carefully and you will find cheap Dubai flights from many UK airports although recent reports suggest that as a result of the struggling pound it is expected that there will be a significant increase in shoppers from the Middle East flying to London.

Immerse yourself

Splash out in Dubai

Get wet and wild – http://www.wildwadi.com/

As you might expect of anything built in Dubai, Wild Wadi, the city’s outdoor water park, has been created with flair and extravagance. It is home to the largest wave pool in the Middle East, producing 1.5 metre-high waves, and the largest water slide outside of North America. It also features an 18 metre (59 ft) waterfall and two artificial surfing machines. Traditional downhill water slides jostle for attention with uphill water ‘roller coasters’, where riders are propelled uphill by water jets. Great fun for any water babes.

Chill Out in Dubai

Surreal ski experience – http://www.skidxb.com/

The concept of an indoor ski centre isn’t unique to Dubai, but the snow park at the Mall of the Emirates (MOE) is the world’s largest and is home to the world’s first indoor black run. It’s quite surreal walking from 40º degrees outside, to -1º or -2º inside the centre, and you can almost suspend disbelief briefly and imagine you’re in the Alps. Runs of varying difficulty, from beginner slopes to advanced, are spread across 22,500 square metres covered with real snow. There’s a quad-chairlift and tow lift to take you back up the slopes each time, and a Freestyle Zone for snowboarders to practise their stunts.

As readership of the Pasty Muncher steadily grows – you’ve seen that snappy facebook “be a fan” button? – we like to think that an occasional contribution to raising awareness of issues that afffect people around the world will encorage some sign of support – a charity donation perhaps or at the very least merely raising awareness so that as we here in the UK approach another over cindulgent Christmas some of us will at least think about the plight those far less fortunate – the many communities around the world in desperate need of assistance..

East Africa Drought – Kenya

Over on the Daily Smellygraph a surprisingly refreshing blogger, GG, asks – what does it take to make people wake up to the devastating effects of climate change citing the Kenya dought as yet another example of terrible suffering that is becoming more common throughout the world.  The numbers are staggering – 19 million people affected by the lack of rain in Kenya – entire regions devastated, cattle being slaughtered.

Is the food shortage in Kenya  famine?

Already the lack of food in the region is being reported as famine however due to the technicalities of the implication of using the term famine fundraising organisations aren’t yet able to use the term that might perhaps generate more contibutions than the seemingly softer approach of food shortages.

It would appear that once a famine has been declared alls resources from individual support agencies are pooled and controlled by the Disaster Emergency Committee – DEC – an umbrella organisation which launches and coordinates responses to major disasters overseas. It enables the British public to donate to British aid agencies – the DEC remit is to unite agency efforts in times of disaster – such as flood, earthquake or famine – wherever it happens in the world

Oxfam’s work in Kenya

Disaster relief agencies are already working to help those affected by the Kenya drought – Oxfam is trucking in clean water to communities and are also working with local pastoralist groups to buy up cattle weakened by the drought and at risk of dying – giving the herders an income, and then distributing the meat to hungry families.

In the long-term Oxfam aim to provide development projects which reduce communities’ vulnerability to the increasing droughts.

Although I will suggest that visitors consider making a charity donation to support the work of Oxfam and other aid organisations tackling the problems faced by communitiess affected by the Kenya drought I have to ask what the country and more importantly the countries that import produce from Kenya are doing to help themselves?

I found it astounding that even in times of drought Kenya exports food yet its population go hungry. The large farms that export vegetables, tea, coffe, flowers all use vast amounts of water while the population have little or no clean fressh water or food.

Shame on the Kenyan government and shame on those that buy food produced there amongst your weekly food shoppping.

Well my munching friends here’s something you wouldn’t expect a humble west country pasty muncher to be checking out but our eyes are drawn to the Middle East and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

As the dismal UK summer draws to a close and the chill evening air of autumn begins to creep through the unsealed doors of Chez Pasty our thoughts have turned to holidays – unlike the sx pistols I DO want a holiday in the sun, as I, like many others feel cheated of summer in the UK – so much for talk of arbeque summer and idillyic camping holidays.  Thanks to the 2009 Met office epic fail I’m down several hundred quid having splashed out on not so cheap camping equipment which has only seen the grey light of a day or two before packing up the tent and stuffing the camping gear in the boot of the care and off to a bit of lovely luxury in glorious five star hotel accomodation – and that was just during a short trip to Wales.

The hunt is on for travel further a field – anyone seen my camel?

Abu Dhabi – Guaranteed Sunshine

Abu Dhabi the poor relation to Dubai is set to become the must go destination later this year when it is host the the (trademark alert) first ever Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2009 is the final race of the season and although not being a Formula 1 fan particularly this event has caught our attention as it ticks many boxes in what we look for in a holiday – obviously sunshine but also the thrill of staying in one of the extrodinary luxury hotels that have been built within the Yas Marina Circuit – some of which span the race track.

Formula 1 Motorsport in Abu Dhabi

Formula 1 is associated with opulence and excess so what better location to hold the concluding race of the 2009 season than in a brand spanking new resort built by an oil rich country with the focus on impressing the world.  Although tickets  to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are not especially expensive, only difficult to buy trackside tickets in advance online and hotel tariffs are acceptable (considering the standard of the rooms and impeccable service, you can pick up some amazing cheap flight deals to Abu Dhabi and nearby Dubai.  The national airline of United Arab Emirates, Etihad, offer return flights to Abu Dhabi from three hundred pounds – London Heathrow.  Incidently the Etihad website (a very black place) identifies the taxes contained within this (over half the fare on cheap flights).

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Pit Babes

My personal concern is for the notorious Pit Babes – Arab resorts are becoming a little more tolerant of western visitors but how I wonder will the Pit Babes go down with the respectable Abu Dhabi Grand Prix promoters?

Every year Sports Illustrated, an American lads mag that queches the thirst for couch potato sports enthusiasts and college boys in search of a cheap thrill, publishes an issue to celebrate swimwear. The swimsuit issue has become one of the most eagerly anticipated publications to hit the shelves and we felt it only fair to bring you some of the hottest  swimwear fashions from across the pond that will hopefully be seen on beaches in the South West soon.

Swimwear or Lingerie?

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue always delivers a high level of swimwear  fashion modeled by super tanned professionals who are able to show off their bodies in swimming costumes with the sensuality of wearing sexy lingerie.

Swimsuit issues

The popularity of types of swimwear that is based on designs of knickers and other lingerie – bikinis, tanga briefs, brazilian knickers, thongs and strings – see the know knickers post raises the issue of sun protection.  Of those questioned the overwhelming sun protection lotion was the Riemann P20 sunfilter – a once a day application which remains and effective sunblock even after a good soaking.

How do the Sports Illustrated girls get such an even tan?

Tanning Beds or Gravy Granules

Notice that no matter what swimwear they are asked to model you never see strap lines of pale patches – just a perfect year round even tan from either weekly sessions in the chud on sun beds or less likely rubbing in fake tan lotion – the cheapest of which has to be a solution made up with gravy granules – mmmm bisto!

Summer 2009 is set to be a scorcher so say the boys at the Met Office and BBC weather men who we all know are rarely wrong.  Weather forescasts for sun are often accompained by advice urging sun protection – here we take a closer look at what you can do to stay safe in the sun.

I was a  little purturbed to read this article about the myths associated with sunbathing however being a strong supporter and occasional user of the NHS I favour the opinions about binge sunbathing from medical experts.

Sun safety

Cases of skin cancer have doubled in the UK over the past two decades, and each year thousands of new cases are reported. We’ve all been told a thousand times to avoid too much sun exposure, wear a hat, use sunscreen, and wear UV-blocking sunglasses – but the fact is many of us still feel better with a tan, and nothing will stop us from spending time soaking up the sun.

One positive health benefit we get from sunlight is that it enables us to produce vitamin D. But unfortunately the same UVB ultraviolet rays that stimulate vitamin D production also cause skin cancer and premature ageing. And while a healthy-looking tan may be attractive, the ‘wrinkled prune effect’ you could have in a decade’s time will be less than alluring…

All sun worshippers can enjoy catching a few rays – but there are a few simple precautions you must take in order to do it safely.

Sun Protection

Cover up

The more you cover up, the longer you can stay out in the sun and the less likely you are to get burnt. But if you’re going somewhere very hot, or if you burn easily, there are also special sun protective clothing ranges . A cheap sarong bought from a beach hawker may offer you a bit of sun protection, but you could still get burnt wearing one. An SPF 50 sarong from a specialist supplier such as Sunsibility, however, will offer much more reliable protection — as will their range of other beachwear and clothing such as t-shirts and hats.

Don’t fry

At the beginning of your holiday, don’t sit out in the sun all day long – let your skin get used to it gradually, with a little more exposure each day. Even once your skin is more used to the sun, avoid exposure between 11:00 and 15:00 when the rays are at their strongest.

Slap on the suncream

The rules for sun cream are straightforward: always apply it, and do so half an hour before you go in the sun; opt for a high protection of SPF15 sun cream or above (particularly at the start of your holiday – but preferably throughout); re-apply it regularly; and never apply it too thinly. An eggcup-full is recommended for all over the body, every 2-3 hours. If you need insect repellent, apply it on top or the sun cream may not absorb into your skin properly.

Riemann P20 Sunfilter

A convenient alternative to sun cream, particularly for the sporty or forgetful, is Riemann’s P20 Sunfilter. It only has to be applied once a day, and is still 90 percent effective after swimming.  Check out  Riemann P20 sunfilter for once a day sun protection

Stay hydrated

Drink plenty of (non-alcoholic!) drinks while sitting in the sun to prevent dehydration. Dehydration combined with sun exposure can lead to heat exhaustion or even sunstroke, which is potentially fatal.

Check on the children in the sun

Most kids rack up some 50-80 percent of their lifetime’s sun exposure before they reach the age of 18, so it’s important to look after their skin early on. Children are more susceptible to the harmful effects of the sun because their skin is thinner the younger they are. Many parents choose a cream with a higher sun factor, swimsuits that offer more coverage, or take a parasol to the beach to provide shade.

Global Warming

As climate change continues to have an effect on global weather it is predicted that in Europe we will see higher temperatures and more intense sunshine. Ironically many still consider this to be a benefit of climate change however aid agencies and disaster relief organisations are highlighting the devastating effects that global warming is having on the weather elsewhere around the world and causing catastrophic misery and poverty for communities who are least responsible for the carbon emissions that are a primary cause of the warming effects of global climate change.

Enjoy your holiday in the sun without worrying about the consequences of the sun but do think about those less fortunate and for whom climate change means drough, famine and desperation.

Remember “life’s a beach, and then you fry” is best applied to a t-shirt.